With the fantastic desert weather this is a great area for hiking.  Emptying into the Deschutes River is the White River.  The White River has a magnificent series of waterfalls that are accessed by trail from the White_River_Falls_State_Park.  The Deschutes has an access road that follows the river providing many opportunities for hikes up side canyons through incredible geology.  Just South on Hwy 197 from Maupin is the Criterion area that offers great day hikes with spectacular mountain scenery.